DeWitt County 4-H hosts awards banquet

STAFF R EPORT About 160 people turned out for the 2025 Annual DeWitt County 4-H Appreciation and Awards Banquet at the Anne Friar Thomas Homemaking Building at Cuero Municipal Park July 29.

“We ordered 175 plates, and we served almost all of them,” said Candace Williamson, County Extension Agent for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “It’s a big end-of-year event for us. We recognized and awarded 4-H members and recognized and thanked our Cuero Livestock Show buyers and supporters that were in attendance.”

The event also hosted the annual Driscoll Children’s Hospital Silent Auction that raised $12,355 from the auction and monetary donations, and the Livestock Judging Team give a presentation about their trip to an international contest in Scotland.

Six graduation seniors were awarded a total of $13,500 in scholarships by the DeWitt County 4H Boosters. There were also awards for 4-H members who completed a record book. The purpose of completing a record book is to develop skills necessary to set goals, work toward achieving the goals, reflect on the experiences and set new and higher goals for themselves.

The 4-H members who applied for leadership awards in their age divisions were interviewed by a panel of judges. Based on that and their 4-H involvement, the highest-ranking members received the awards.

There are six traditional 4-H clubs in the area: Arneckeville, Meyersville, Bear Creek, Outsiders, Yorktown and Prairie Street. There are four project clubs: Livestock Judging Project, Shotgun Project, Archery Project and Cowboy Up Riders Horse Project.

The 4-H Club is open to all students in the county, ranging from kindergarten to high school seniors, Williamson said. Last year, there were 333 students involved in the club, she added.

“We’re getting ready to ramp up our activities for the new 4-H year,” Williamson said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Williamson said that any students wishing to participate should call her at 361-275-0816 so she can guide them on how to get involved.

4‑H is a worldwide youth development program offering hands-on educational experiences for young people aged 5 to 19, focused on leadership, citizenship, and life skills like science, agriculture, and healthy living. Participants can engage in projects, attend fairs, and join clubs to learn new skills, develop confidence, and contribute to their communities, all guided by the 4-Hs of the pledge: head, heart, hands, and health.

The awards and scholarships presented included DeWitt County 4-H Ambassadors Gunnar Frank, Caleb Keller, Chance Keller, Emerson Flessner and Jana Justiss; Gold Star Award Winners: Andrew Hahn and Caleb Keller; Danforth “I Dare You” Award Winner: Gunnar Frank; A.W. Shaffner Leadership Award Winner: J.R. Bishop; Silver Star Award Winner: Emerson Flessner; Karen Obsta Wendel Leadership Award Emerson Flessner; Bronze Star Award Winners Maesen Foerster and Reece Foerster; Rookie Award Winner Emma Luddeke and 4-H Booster Scholarship Recipients: Justin “J.R.” Bishop- $3000, Ella Jander- $3000, Robert post-$2000, Kassidy Cowey- $2000, Elizabeth “Ellie” Noel$1500, Audrey Donihoo- $1000 and Brooke Prasek- $1000.

4-H Club Managers and Project Coaches recognized were Sarah Hahn, Yorktown 4-H Club Manager; Tamara Zengerle, Arneckeville 4-H Club Manager; Gary Cowey, DeWitt Archery Project Coach; Jamie Collier, Meyersville 4-H Club Manager; Carrie Frank, Outsiders 4-H Club Manager; Ann Seidenberger, Bear Creek 4-H Club Manager; Amanda Cowey, DeWitt Archery Project Club Manager; Debbie Roeder, Yorktown 4-H and DeWitt 4H Shotgun Project Club Manager; Mindy Howe, Prairie Street 4H Club Manager; Amanda Luddeke, De-Witt 4-H Livestock Judging Project Coach and Club Manager.

Also recognized were 4-H 2025 Adult Leader of the Year Jennifer Netardus and 4-H 2025 Honorary 4-H Member: Albert and Janice Barnes Family. 4-H Record Book Award Winners were Gunnar Frank, J.R. Bishop, Kassidy Cowey, Caleb Keller, Ella Jander, Kylan Respondek, Andrew Hahn, Robert Post, Luke Hahn, Reece Foerster, Emma Luddeke, Maesen Foerster, Chance Keller, Emerson Flessner, Gracie Kelley.